Evolve

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER combination delivers a performance profile in Evolve that is heavily skewed by the GPU, with the processor providing sufficient headroom across most settings. The data shows a system that excels at high-refresh 1080p and 1440p gameplay, while 4K Ultra demands more from the hardware than the combo can consistently deliver. This analysis breaks down the measured results, component roles, and optimal settings based solely on the provided benchmark data.

CPU Role — cores, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor from the 3000 series, built on the Zen 2 architecture (Matisse) using a 7 nm process. Its base clock is 3.60 GHz with a boost clock of 4.20 GHz, and it features a 32 MB shared L3 cache. The CPU's benchmark scores indicate a solid mid-range performer: it scores 696 in the 3dmark single-thread test and 4605 in the 3dmark 16-thread test, while Cinebench R23 results are 2124 single-core and 15045 multi-core. This places the processor at the 71st percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 17035.

The processor's nearest rivals in terms of average benchmark score provide context: the Intel Core i7-1260P scores 17007 (0.2% higher), while the Intel Core i5-11400 scores 17067 (0.2% higher than the Ryzen 5 3600). The AMD EPYC 7573X and EPYC 7742 are also within 0.2% of its score, at 17070 and 16998, respectively. These deltas are negligible, meaning the Ryzen 5 3600 sits in a tight performance cluster where no single rival has a meaningful advantage in synthetic multi-threaded tests.

In Evolve, the CPU's role is best understood through the frame rate scaling across resolutions. At 1080p, where the GPU has less work per frame, the CPU must keep up with higher frame rates. The data shows the combo reaches 224 FPS at Low settings and 187 FPS at High settings in 1080p. The Ryzen 5 3600's 12 threads and 4.20 GHz boost clock appear sufficient for these loads, as the frame rates scale consistently with GPU load rather than showing CPU bottlenecks. At 4K, the CPU's workload per frame is proportionally lower relative to the GPU, and the frame rates drop more steeply, confirming that the GPU becomes the primary limiter at higher resolutions. The 3dmark 8-thread score of 3844 and the 3dmark max-thread score of 4603 suggest the processor handles multi-threaded game workloads well, which aligns with the observed performance at 1080p.

GPU Role — VRAM, clocks, and how they relate to this game's results

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER is built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with a 5 nm process, featuring 10240 shading units, 320 texture mapping units, and 112 ROPs. It has 16 GB of GDDR6X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 736.3 GB/s of bandwidth. The GPU's base clock is 2295 MHz with a boost clock of 2550 MHz, and its memory runs at 1438 MHz (23 Gbps effective). This hardware configuration places the GPU at the 86th percentile among all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 54209.

The GPU's nearest rivals show very tight competition: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 scores 54247 (0.1% higher), while the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X scores 54828 (1.1% higher), and the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB scores 55698 (2.7% higher). The AMD Radeon 8060S leads with 55757 (2.8% higher). These deltas are small, indicating the RTX 4080 SUPER is a high-end part that sits just below the top tier in synthetic benchmarks like 3dmark Steel Nomad DX12 (6600) and Geekbench Vulkan (260075).

In Evolve, the GPU's 16 GB VRAM and high bandwidth are more than sufficient for the game's demands, as evidenced by consistent frame rates even at 4K. The GPU's role is most apparent in the scaling from High to Ultra settings. At 1080p, the frame rate drops from 187 FPS at High to 140 FPS at Ultra, a 25% reduction. At 1440p, the drop is from 136 FPS to 94 FPS (31% reduction), and at 4K it falls from 77 FPS to 54 FPS (30% reduction). These consistent percentage drops across resolutions indicate that the GPU is the dominant factor in settings scaling, with the CPU providing a stable base. The GPU's boost clock of 2550 MHz and the 52.22 TFLOPS FP32 compute capability drive the high frame rates at lower settings, but the Ultra preset's demands push the combo to its limits at 4K, where the average FPS of 54 is below the 60 FPS target many players prefer.

How This Combo Ranks — use comboRankInGame vs other tested combos

The combination of the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER ranks 585th out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the top 16% of all configurations. This rank reflects the system's overall capability, but the data reveals a nuanced picture: the GPU is a top-tier part, while the CPU is a mid-range part, and their pairing creates a system that performs well but is not at the very top of the leaderboard.

The combo's rank is driven primarily by the GPU's high percentile (86th) versus the CPU's lower percentile (71st). This mismatch means the system is not fully CPU-limited in most scenarios, but the CPU does prevent the GPU from reaching its absolute maximum potential in CPU-bound situations. For context, the nearest CPU rivals (Intel Core i7-1260P, Intel Core i5-11400) have nearly identical average scores, so swapping the Ryzen 5 3600 for one of those would not materially change the combo's rank. Similarly, the GPU's nearest rivals are all within 2.8% in average score, meaning the RTX 4080 SUPER is a solid but not exceptional choice in its class.

The rank of 585 out of 3700 suggests that many faster combos exist, likely pairing the RTX 4080 SUPER with higher-end CPUs or pairing faster GPUs with similar CPUs. However, for the specific hardware in this combo, the measured FPS data shows that it can handle high refresh rates at 1080p and 1440p, with the 4K Ultra preset being the only configuration where the system falls short of a smooth experience. The percentile rankings of the individual components (CPU 71st, GPU 86th) suggest the combo is balanced towards GPU-heavy workloads, which aligns with the observed performance in Evolve.

Measured FPS Breakdown — resolution by resolution, settings by settings, exact numbers

The measured FPS data provides a comprehensive view of the combo's performance across three resolutions and four settings presets. At 1920x1080, the system delivers high frame rates across all settings: Low averages 224 FPS, Medium averages 204 FPS (with a min of 173 and max of 235), High averages 187 FPS, and Ultra averages 140 FPS. These numbers indicate that the combo is well-suited for high-refresh-rate monitors at 1080p, with even the most demanding Ultra preset staying above 140 FPS.

Moving to 2560x1440, the frame rates remain strong but show a clear step down. Low averages 196 FPS, Medium averages 173 FPS (min 147, max 199), High averages 136 FPS, and Ultra averages 94 FPS. The Ultra preset at 1440p drops below the 100 FPS threshold, which may be noticeable for players with 144Hz displays, but the High preset at 136 FPS remains smooth. At 3840x2160, the system's limits become apparent: Low averages 127 FPS, Medium averages 99 FPS (min 84, max 113), High averages 77 FPS, and Ultra averages 54 FPS. The 4K High and Ultra presets fall below 60 FPS, which is the typical target for smooth gameplay, while Medium at 99 FPS is the only 4K preset that provides a comfortable experience.

The data shows a consistent pattern: as resolution increases, the gap between Low and Ultra settings widens in absolute terms. At 1080p, the difference between Low and Ultra is 84 FPS (224 vs 140). At 1440p, it is 102 FPS (196 vs 94). At 4K, it is 73 FPS (127 vs 54). This suggests that the GPU's workload scales more steeply with resolution than with settings, which is typical for a game like Evolve where resolution has a larger impact on pixel throughput than on shader complexity.

Resolution Scaling — how FPS drops from 1080p to 4K and what it says about the limiting component

The resolution scaling data reveals which component is the primary limiter at each setting. At Low settings, the frame rate drops from 224 FPS at 1080p to 196 FPS at 1440p (a 12.5% decrease) and then to 127 FPS at 4K (a 35.2% decrease from 1440p). At Medium settings, the drop is from 204 FPS at 1080p to 173 FPS at 1440p (15.2% decrease) and then to 99 FPS at 4K (42.8% decrease from 1440p). At High settings, the drop is from 187 FPS at 1080p to 136 FPS at 1440p (27.3% decrease) and then to 77 FPS at 4K (43.4% decrease from 1440p). At Ultra settings, the drop is from 140 FPS at 1080p to 94 FPS at 1440p (32.9% decrease) and then to 54 FPS at 4K (42.6% decrease from 1440p).

The percentage drops from 1440p to 4K are remarkably consistent across all settings (ranging from 35.2% to 43.4%), which strongly suggests the GPU is the limiting component at 4K. The GPU's pixel throughput is the bottleneck, as the RTX 4080 SUPER must render four times as many pixels at 4K compared to 1080p. The CPU's role diminishes at higher resolutions because the frame rate drops, giving the CPU more time to prepare each frame. Conversely, the smaller percentage drops from 1080p to 1440p (12.5% to 32.9%) indicate that the CPU is still contributing at 1080p, where higher frame rates demand more CPU work.

The data shows that the transition from 1440p to 4K is where the combo hits its wall. The 4K Ultra preset at 54 FPS is the weakest result, and even 4K High at 77 FPS is below the 60 FPS target. This indicates that while the RTX 4080 SUPER has 16 GB of VRAM and high bandwidth, the game's Ultra settings at 4K exceed what this particular CPU-GPU pairing can sustain. The limiting component at 4K is clearly the GPU, as the CPU's performance is sufficient to drive the frame rates down in tandem with the GPU's workload.

Settings Recommendations — which preset gives the best experience per the measured rows

Based on the measured FPS data, the optimal settings depend on the target resolution and desired frame rate. At 1920x1080, all settings provide playable frame rates, but the High preset at 187 FPS offers an excellent balance between visual quality and performance. The Ultra preset at 140 FPS is also viable for players with 144Hz monitors, while the Medium preset at 204 FPS is ideal for competitive play where higher frame rates are prioritized. The Low preset at 224 FPS is the fastest but sacrifices visual fidelity.

At 2560x1440, the High preset at 136 FPS is the recommended choice for most players, as it provides a smooth experience on 144Hz monitors while maintaining good visual quality. The Medium preset at 173 FPS is better for competitive play, but the drop to 94 FPS at Ultra makes that preset less desirable unless the player prioritizes visuals over frame rate. The Low preset at 196 FPS is the best for maximum responsiveness, but the visual trade-offs may be too significant for some.

At 3840x2160, the Medium preset at 99 FPS is the only setting that provides a comfortable experience above 60 FPS. The High preset at 77 FPS is playable but may feel less smooth, while the Ultra preset at 54 FPS is below the standard 60 FPS target and should be avoided for fast-paced gameplay. The Low preset at 127 FPS is surprisingly strong for 4K, suggesting that the game's Low settings are not particularly demanding on the GPU. For players with 60Hz 4K displays, the High preset at 77 FPS is a reasonable choice, but the Medium preset offers the best balance of visual quality and frame rate stability.

FAQ

*Q: What is the best resolution for this combo in Evolve?*

A: The data shows the combo performs best at 1920x1080, where all settings exceed 140 FPS, with the High preset at 187 FPS offering an excellent balance. At 2560x1440, the High preset at 136 FPS is also strong, while 4K requires Medium settings to stay above 60 FPS.

Q: How does the RTX 4080 SUPER compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 4080 SUPER has an average benchmark score of 54209, which is 0.1% lower than the RTX 4080 (54247), 1.1% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X (54828), 2.7% lower than the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB (55698), and 2.8% lower than the AMD Radeon 8060S (55757).

Q: Is the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 a bottleneck for the RTX 4080 SUPER?

A: The CPU's percentile (71st) is lower than the GPU's (86th), and the resolution scaling data shows the GPU is the primary limiter at 4K. At 1080p, the CPU contributes more to performance, but the frame rates remain high, indicating the CPU is not a severe bottleneck.

Q: What is the combo's rank among all tested configurations?

A: The combo ranks 585th out of 3700 tested combos in Evolve, placing it in the top 16% of all configurations. This rank reflects the strong GPU performance tempered by the mid-range CPU.

Q: Which settings preset should I use at 4K for the smoothest experience?

A: The Medium preset at 4K averages 99 FPS with a minimum of 84 FPS, making it the only 4K preset that consistently stays above 60 FPS. The High preset at 77 FPS is playable, but the Ultra preset at 54 FPS is below the standard target.

Q: How does the CPU's multi-threaded performance affect gameplay?

A: The Ryzen 5 3600 scores 15045 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 4605 in 3dmark 16-thread tests. These scores support the high frame rates seen at 1080p, where the CPU has more work per frame, but the GPU becomes the limiting factor at higher resolutions.